Congratulations! By deciding to quit smoking you’ve made one of the most significant steps you can take towards good health. Every year 150,000 Australians quit smoking for good.
When smokers quit however, most get cravings, feel anxious, hungry and irritable. They also find it hard to focus and concentrate and many worry about the unwanted side effects of weight gain.
Here are some ways to best equip your mind and body along the road to being smoke free. And leave you feeling replenished and in great shape by the time your body loses those constant cravings.
Combat the weighty issue
It’s common for people to gain weight when they quit smoking. As nicotine tends to suppress hunger and speed up the metabolism, its removal can commonly cause around 3-5 kg of weight gain. Make sure you take time to increase your activity levels to help compensate for any additional kilojoule intake.
Go for hunger busters and distractors
As well as helping manage a new found hunger, quitters benefit from the much needed distraction of regular meals, snacks and nibbles. Stock up on a steady supply of low kilojoule nibbles like sugarless chewing gum and mints, strawberries, raw veggie sticks, chilled watermelon cubes and diet jelly.
Boost energy levels and metabolism
Combat those tired and irritable feelings, maximize concentration and help keep your energy levels up with sufficient nutritious carbohydrates and low glycemic index choices for a sustained energy supply. Follow a grazing style of eating and mini meals to also boost your metabolism. And go for plenty of pungent herbs and spices to get your taste buds tingling again and chili that contains the metabolism boosting component called capsaicin.
Reap the rewards from replenishers
In order to help counteract oxidative damage from smoking go for plenty of plant foods due to their special protective components called phytochemicals. The antioxidants will help protect your inner body cells.
Get by with a little help from your friends
Dealing with regular social situations, like Friday night drinks at the pub, can be risky business when you first quit smoking. Why not invite family or friends around for a meal instead and remove yourself from environments where you frequently light up.
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